Three Leads Slip, As Does Key Point

Fruitless 5-on-3s Prove To Be Costly

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The Panthers picked up one point in the standings Wednesday.

But most of their focus afterward was on the point they gave away by slipping into the habits that have made winning road games such a tough task.

The Panthers seized the lead three times -- once in each period -- but failed to hold on and lost to the Islanders 4-3 on Mark Parrish's goal 2:15 into overtime.

They left Nassau Coliseum with little more satisfaction than they did Continental Airlines Arena the night before after a 3-0 loss to the Devils.

"The goal was to get two [points], and we had a great opportunity that we let get away," center Joe Nieuwendyk said of the lost leads. "And we've seen that before. But again, we just have to keep pushing along."

Nieuwendyk gave the Panthers their last edge 4:02 into the third when he took a pass in the slot from Nathan Horton and fired in his fifth goal in five games. But the Panthers failed to capitalize on a 5-on-3 at 6:37 when Radek Martinek was called for delay of game and Brent Sopel followed him to the penalty box less than a minute later. Then at 11:05, the Islanders knotted the game when Miroslav Satan's shot from the blue line deflected in off Alexei Yashin's skate.

"We had opportunities on the 5-on-3 to really go up two. I think that would have made the difference," Nieuwendyk said. "When you let them hang around on their own ice and they get opportune goals like they did, you never know what can happen in overtime."

Juraj Kolnik and Joel Kwiatkowski scored in the first and second periods, respectively, but the Islanders countered with two goals from former Panther Oleg Kvasha, who had three goals in 26 games before Wednesday. The Islanders prevailed when Shawn Bates passed the puck out from behind the net to Parrish, another ex-Panther.

"He fanned on it, so it went over my shoulder and it went in," said goalie Roberto Luongo. "That's the only reason they scored there."

Luongo, who was supposed to have had Wednesday night off, was forced into action in a physical game that cost both teams their starting goalie.

"It's always been one of my weak points. I'm not very good at coming into the games [I don't start]," said Luongo, who made 23 saves. "So considering the fact we were able to get it to overtime is pretty satisfying."

The Panthers' Jamie McLennan hurt his shoulder 3:18 into the game in a collision with Bates and didn't return after the first period. The Islanders' Garth Snow was helped off the ice with 8.5 seconds left in regulation when Horton and Alexei Zhitnik rammed into him. Panthers defenseman Mike Van Ryn suffered a deep bruise of his right quadriceps in the second period, and Florida was left with just five defensemen the rest of the game.

The Panthers outshot the Islanders 42-38 one night after they posted a season-low 16 shots, but managed just two in overtime against backup goalie Wade Dubielewicz, playing in his third career NHL game and first this season.

"We would have liked to get two points, but some mistakes cost us," Panthers coach Jacques Martin said. "Hopefully, from now on we're moving forward."